Empower Yourself
In all the news about Kesha, I keep reading reference to how much money the studio has already paid out in support of her career. In Why Sony Doesn't Want to Let Kesha Out of Her Contract With Her Alleged Abuser we learn
Gottwald invested $60 million in Sebert’s career. That is a lot of money, but just a few paragraphs later, we are told Say Sebert goes into the studio and records an album that costs half a million dollars to produce. “The label fronts all that money for the recording costs, and it’s recuperable against the artist — the artist won’t start seeing royalties until the costs are recouped — and if the artist never makes a dime, the record label is in the hole for half a million. So, it costs a half million dollars to produce the music, and the artist doesn't get paid until those costs are recouped. Well, I hope a salary for the artist is included in that half a million, but it is good business to pay your costs before handing out the profits, so Sony certainly can't be faulted for that. However, in the grand scheme of pop music, her status is still that of a platinum-selling artist who makes her label a lot of money. and the major labels invest so much money in breaking a new artist that they’re reluctant to break a contract with an artist because they want to make their investment back and then some. Sure they would. Again, that is just good business, but it also seems like the real issue here is that Kesha is an artist who makes the label money, and they want to keep her working because their other investments haven't paid off. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, "despite Luke's efforts, [Kemosabe] has failed to be an Iovine-esque success. Billboard sources claim it's burned through about $20 million and "has [Miley] Cyrus [via "Wrecking Ball," etc.] to thank for being in the black." Cyrus has not worked with Dr. Luke in some time (but she did express support for Kesha via Instagram by sharing a photo of Fiona Apple with a pro-Kesha sign). Otherwise, Kemosabe's biggest artist by far is Kesha." And therein, lies the problem for me. Sony has every right to try to make back their money and profit off of Kesha's success. But Kesha shouldn't have to be responsible for Sony's other bad investments. Especially not at the expense of her health and well-being. No one will likely know for sure whether her sexual allegations are true, although I suspect they are. Very few women invite the negative consequences that come with such allegations into their lives. But the issue is not whether she was raped by her producer. The issue is whether she should be forced to work for a man who she feels has taken advantage of her emotionally and sexually. Should she be obligated to make money for him? Of course she shouldn't. And it is situations like this that make it easier to understand why so many artists (George Michael, The Clash, Nine Inch Nails) are against the corporations they initially work with.
2 Comments
Very glad you've blogged about this. Regardless if the allegations are true or not ( and I'm in agreement with you that they most likely are true.) Luke and Kesha will never make money because a creative collaborative relationship is impossible. Sony should cut it's loses now.
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Linda
2/25/2016 03:49:33 pm
It would seem like the sensible thing to do. Even if Kesha is forced to work for the label under another producer, it doesn't seem like a situation that would enable the creative juices to flow.
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AuthorI am a yoga instructor, author and activist. I wrote The Diamond Tree to inspire women to take chances. Even if the outcome of any given risk is different than expected, there is something for the community and the individual to gain from it. Archives
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